Telephonic apparatus



M. WEIL.

TELEPHONIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F|LED|\1An .30, 191e.

Patented June 29, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. WEIL.

TELEPHONIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man MAR. so, 1916.

1,345,049', Patented June 29,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAXIMILIAN WEIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

NATIONAL PHONE COMEANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

DELAWARE.

A. CORPORATION l OF TELErHoNTc APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented June 29, 19.270,

Application led March 30, 1916. Serial N0. 87.861.

To (all whom t may conce/rar.

Be it known that I, MAXIMILIAN YEIL, a citizen of the United States of Americapre siding at the borough of Manhattan, city.

county, and State of New York, have in in which the telephone apparatus is located.

A further object of the invention is to attain improved aseptic conditions in the use of telephone apparatus. t

It has been heretofore proposed to employ booths for inciosing telephone apparatus and the person of the user, but such arrange-r ments are expensive, require considerable Hoor area and are highly objectionable owing to accumulation of infectious germs, objectionable odors, etc. It also has been heretofore proposed to employ various devices Such as hoods, placedover the telephone transmitter, receiving the users head or mouth while telephoning. However, such devices have been failures owing to interference effects in Vsound waves due to reflection and eddy voice currents within the hood, loss of nasal sounds causing incom- *plete enunciation, etc., and also to inconvenience in use and4 causing septic conditions. While certain of such devices operated to silence the sounds at the users endof the telephone, they were ineffectual in attaining understandable transmitted conversation, and hence, so far as Iam aware, became complete failures.

In accordance with my invention, the above disadvantages are for all practical purposes entirely eliminated, as will be eX- emplified by two desirable forms of my inventiOn. One form of my invention is particularly adapted for use with the ordinary desk and wall types of telephones, and may be generally described' as comprisingva hollow body member adapted to be placed close to the mouth of the user and adapted to ref ceive the voice sounds, an acoustic dia-H phragm, and a passage or passages conveying the sounds from the interior of said hollow body ymember to said diaphragm, in combination with means for relieving excess air pressure and minimizing reiiecting and other echo sound waves. Preferably, my invention also includes means related to the acoustic diaphragm for focusing the sound waves transmitted thereby onto the transmitter of the telephone. For purposes of simplification in manufacture, such form of my invention is usually constructed to embody as a unitary device the hollow body member, acoustic diaphragm, the sound pas-v sages means and the anti-pressure and vantireflectionv means, in which form`my inven tion maybe readily manually held in suitable spaced relation to the transmitter of the telephone If desired, the hollow body member may be provided at its forwardend with a mouth piece of glass or other vitreous material, or Y the like, to enable the` same to be cleansed by antiseptic treatment, for which purpose'the mouth piece may be removably attached to the hollow body member.

Another form of my invention is particularly applicable to'hand-set telephones including the aforesaid'main featuresA of my invention mounted conjointlyfonto and in spaced `relation to vthe transmitter of the hand-set. f

Further objects and features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following. description and accompanying drawings, in whichn Figure l is a side elevation of one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevationI but showing a portion of the sound passage means removed, for sake of clearness;

' Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a det-ail plan view of the sound passage means;

Fig. 5 1s a diagrammatic view, showing the use of my invention with an ordinary telephone transmitter Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the acoustic diaphragm shown in the above named figures; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View, largely diagrammatic of another form of my invention. Referring to Figs. v1 and 2, the Vhollow body member 1 is shown as substantially cylindrical in its major portion and pro-Y then vided with the mouth piece 2 adapted to receive the mouth ot the user. The mouth piece 2 is shown removably attached to the hollow body member l by the screwthreaded lioint 3. lThe lower portion l of mouth piece 2 may be ac vantageously brought against the chin of the user as a partial support, while the fingers el the user will encircle the exterior oi the hollow body member l to support and direct the saine in relation to the telephone transmitter". Lis indicated in Fig. 5, the device is held in spaced relation to the telephone transmitter 3, and the device directed so that the mean path of travel ol" the sound waves, as indicated by the arrowed line 6, is substantially centrally of the mouth piece of the telephone transmitter 5.

Referring further to Figs. 1 and 2, the sound passage means is shown as comprising an annular or other hollow element 7, adjustably positioned within the interior oi the hollow body member 1, as by screwthreaded engagement therewith; said sound passage means '7 is provided with the transmitting passage 8, shown extending` centrally therethrough and leading to the acoustic diaphragm 9 preferably mounted on resilient gaskets 10, 10, shown as a band or ring oi' rubber extending` about the edge of the diaphragm 9 from one 'tace thereof to the other. Upon impact of sound waves against said diaphragm 9, the same will be vibrated in consonance therewith and the resultant sound waves transmitted. through the rearward exit opening 11 of the sound directing means 12. The path of the resultant sound waves is indicated by the arrowed line 6 of Fig. 5.

The anti-pressure and anti-interference means is shown provided with passages 13 extending generally longitudinally of the hollow body member l1 and having torlwardly directed openings, then communicating with rearward transverse passages lll.,

communicating with returned passages 15, then communicating with forward transverse passages 16 and then communicating with terminal passages 17. Exteriorly of the rearward portion of said sound passage means 7 is provided the outlet openings 18 shown as termed within an annulus 19 having an inner annular passage 2t) adapted to communicate ,with said terminal passages l? and communicating with the atmosphere through said openings 18. Said annulus 19 is shown assembled onto the body member 1 by screw threaded or other adjustable-connection, whereby upon proper positioning ot the same, the annular iassage 20 will be brought into common communi .ition with the respective terminal passages 1'?. Said liwusing means is shown an constructed'integ y with said annulus 19 and jointly mountedby screw threaded engagenient onto said sound passage means T, thereby regulating the degree ot pressure against said gaskets 10, 10, ot the acoustic diaphragm 9.

It will be noted, in the construction shown, that the circumscribing wall of the individual passages 13, 111, 15, 16 and 17, forming the respective sets of circuitous passages, is constituted by the inner tace of the hollow body member 1, except that the rearward portion of each terminal passage 17 is open to the encircling groove 20. ln Fig. 2 the sound passage means 7 is shown broken away to an extent of about ninety degrees of its periphery, but in construction it is continuous throughout its complete periphery and provided with smaller sets of circuitous passages, as indicated in Fig. 4t.

rlChe diaphragm 9 may be `formed of metallic or other resilient or yieldable material, or ot otl material possessing a certain degree of porosity as well as yieldability. The configuration of the sound directing means 12 will be determined :in accordance with the particular circumstances of use. rllhe complete tests which l have made over telephone lines show the entire absence of muiiled and echo interfering sounds while the nasal sounds are translated directly into the mouth piece of the transmitter, thereby attaining transmission over the line o1 the full voice waves and yieldingl clear and distinct enunciation at the receiving end.

lt will be noted that my invention attains pi" vacy during telephone conversation and also precludes disturbance oi other parties in the same room or inclosure as the user. liiy invention provides in telephoning a device 'for private use and reserve possessing advantages similar to an individual drinking cup.

The term of my invention shown in Fig. 7 adapted particularly 'for hand-set telephone use. The handle 25 is shown supporting the acoustic receiver 26 at one end and the acoustic transmitter 27 at the other end. the last-named being similar in construction to the device shown in the above described figures. l/Vhen in proper position for use with the transmitter 5 of the ordinary telephone transmitter, the mean path of the voice waves indicated by the arrowed line (S will be directed toward the mouth piece of transmitter 5, similarly as above. rl`he ordinary receiver 2S of the telephone line may be placedupon thesupport 29 of the acoustic transmitter 30 comprising the amplifying passage 31 connected by means of the hollow tubing 32 with the acoustic receiver 26. The operation of my last described torm is substantially the same as the forms described more fully hereinabove, eX- cepting that the transmission of the respective sound waves are conveyed acoustically troni 'the telephone receiver to the receiving device placed adjacent the ear of the user.

From the above described forms ot my invention, it will be noted that my invention possesses advantages over telephone booths in attaining acoustic conditions, privacy in conversation, reduction in space required for installation, less disturbance to'outsiders, etc. The nature of operation and use ot my invention gives it the relation of a transmitting articulate sound waves emitted through the mouth of the user, said casing comprising a mouth piece constructed to substantially completely inclose thev mouth ot the user but leaving the nose of theuser open to 'the free atmosphere, whereby the sounds emitted through the noseV of the user are transmitted through the free atmosphereto said device, said casing vbeing provided at its extreme end opposite said moutli piece with an exit opening, said exit opening when the apparatus is in use being spaced from said member through the free atmosphere. l

Apparatus adapted for use With a sound receiving device having a member provided with a sound receiving passage, comprising means tor silently receiving articulate sound Waves emitted through the mouth of the user, said receiving means comprising a mouth piece constructed to substantially completely inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nose of the user open to the free atmosphere, whereby the sounds emitted through the nose of the user are transmitted through the free atmosphere to said device, said receiving means comprising a yieldable element, said means being provided With an exit opening, said exit opening when the apparatus is in use being spaced from said member through the tree atmosphere. l

3. Apparatus for use with a sound receiving device having av member provided with a sound receiving passage comprising a casing, means disposed in saidv casing for silently receiving sound Waves emitted through the mouth of the user, said casing comprising a mouth piece constructed to substantially completely inclose the mouth ofthe user but leaving the nose of the user open to the tree atmosphere, said casing comprising'a yieldable diaphragm disposed in said casing, said casing being provided with an exit opening, said exit opening when the apparat-us is in use being spaced from said 'member through the free atmosphere.

" 4. Apparatus for use' with a sound receiving object, comprising means for silently receiving` sound Waves emitted through the mouth of theV user, said receiving means comprising ,a mouth piece constructed to inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nosev of the user open to the free atmosphere, said receiving means comprising an element for precluding pressure of the medium Within said receiving means, said apparatus in use being spaced from such object by the free atmosphere.

5; VApparatus for use with a sound receivingobject, comprising means tor silently receiving sound Waves emittedv through the mouth of the user, said receiving means comprising a'mouth piece constructed to inclose the mouth of the user but leavingthe noseV of the user open to the free atmosphere, said receiving means being provided With a plurality of passages leading from the interior of said receiving means to the free atmosphere, said apparatus in use being spaced from such object by the freeatmosphere.

6. Apparatus for use With a sound receivingwob] ect, comprising means for silently receiving sound Waves emitted through the mouth of the user, said receiving means comprising a mouth piece constructed to inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nose of the user open to the free atmosphere, said receiving means being provided with a plurality of passages extending in a plurality of directions, and connecting the interior of said receiving means with the free atmosphere, said apparatus in use being spaced lfrom such object by the free a atmosphere.

`comprising a mouth piece constructed to inclose the mouth oii the user but leaving the nose of the user open to the free atmosphere, said receiving means being provided with a plurality of passages leading from the interior of said receiving means to the free atmosphere, and a yieldable diaphragm mounted Within said receiving means, said apparatus in use being spaced from such object by the free atmosphere.

8. Apparatus for use with a sound receiving object, comprising means for silently receiving sound Waves emitted through the mouth of the user, said receiving means comprising a mouth piece constructed to inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nose of the usci' open to the free atmospherei said receiving means being provided with a plurality ot passages extending in a plurality of directions and connecting the interior of said receiving means with the 'free atmosphere, and a yieldable diaphragm mounted within said receiving means, said apparatus in. use being spaced from such ob ject by the free atmosphere.

9. The combination with a sound receiving device having a member provided with a sound receiving passage, of an apparatus comprising a casing, means disposed in said casing for transmitting sound Waves *correspending to the waves emitted through the mouth of the user, and a mouth piece for said apparatus constructed to substantially completely inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nose of the user open to the iree atmosphere7 said casing being provided with an exit opening, said exit opening being spaced from said member through the free atmosphere.

l0. The combination with a sound receiving object having a member provided with a sound receiving passage, of a device comprising a casing, means disposed in said casing for transmitting the sounds correspendingY to the Waves emitted through the mouth of the user7 a yieldable diaphragm mounted Within said transmitting means and a mouth piece for said casing constructed to substantially completely inclose the mouth of the user but'leaving the nose of the useropen to the free atmosphere. said device being provided with van exit opening positioned relatively to said diaphragm oppositely of said mouth piece, said exit opening being spaced from said member through the free atmosphere.

ll. The combination with a sound receiving object having a member provided with a sound receiving passage and further provided with a yieldable diaphragm, of a de vice comprising a casing, means disposed in said casing for transmitting the sounds corresponding to the Waves emitted through the mouth of the user, a sound responsive diaphragm mounted Within said casing and a mouth piece for said casing constructed to f substantially completely inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nose of the user open to free atmosphere, said casing being provided With an exit opening, said exit opening being spaced from said member through the atmosphere.

12. A device for use with a sound receiving object, having a member provided With a sound receiving passage and further provided with a sound responsive vibratable elementycomprising a casing, and a mouth piece for said casing constructed to substantially completely inclose the mouth of the user but leaving the nose of the user open to the free atmosphere, said casing being provided With an exit opening, said exit opening when the casing is in use being spaced from said member through the tree atmosphere.

In testimony whereofl I have signed this speciication.

MAXIMILIAN VEIL. 

